10 - Vital Signs Flashcards
Plumb line
an imaginary straight line from the top of the head to the floor. Perfect posture means our ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles stack up along this line.
Hyperthermia
Or fever is caused I pyrogens secreted by toxic bacteria during infections or as a result of tissue breakdown such as that after myocardial infraction, trauma, surgery or malignancy.
Hypothermia
Is usually caused by accidental, prolonged exposure to cold period it also may be purposefully induced to lower the body’s requirements during heart or peripheral vascular surgery.
Temperature Range
36-38ºC
oral/tempanic/temporal = 37
rectal = 27.5
axillary 36.5
Rectal temperature
only when the other routes are not practical for example in comatose for confused patients, those in shock, or those who cannot close the mouth because of breathing or oxygen tubes.
Stroke volume
with every beat the heart pumps an amount of blood into the aorta. About 70 milliliters in adults
tympanic membrane thermometer
senses infrared emissions of the tympanic membrane. Shares the same vascular supply that profuse is the hypothalamus the internal carotid artery making it an accurate measurement of core temperature
temporal artery thermometer
used by sliding the probe across the forehead and behind the ear auxiliary temperature is safe and accurate for infants and young children
brachycardia
a resting heart rate less than 50 beats per minute
tachycardia
a more rapid heart rate over 95 beats per minute or over 100 beats per minute
sinus arrhythmia
the heart rate varies with the respiratory cycle speeding up at the peak of inspiration and slowing to normal with expiration
systolic pressure
the maximum pressure felt on the artery during left ventricular contraction or systol
diastolic pressure
pressure the elastic recall, or resting, pressure that the blood exerts constantly between each contraction
mean arterial pressure
the pressure forcing blood into the tissues, averaged over the cardiac cycle
pulse pressure
the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures and reflects the stroke volume
blood pressure
the force of the blood pushing against the side of the vessel wall
cardiac output
if the heart pumps more blood into the vessels the pressure on the vessel wall increases
viscosity
the thickness of blood determined by its formed elements the blood cells. Thicker blood increases pressure
peripheral vascular resistance
opposition to blood through flow through the arteries. When blood vessels become smaller and constricted greater pressure is needed to push blood through
osculatory gap
a period when Korotokoff’s sounds disappear during auscultation
hypotension
an abnormally low blood pressure
hypertension
an abnormally high blood pressure
orthostatic hypertension
drop in systolic pressure of more than 20 millimeters of mercury or an orthostatic pulse increase of 20 beats per minute occurs with a quick change to standing position.
Result from abrupt peripheral vasodilation without a compensatory increase in cardiac output
Sphygmomanometer
cuff for blood pressure measurement
Pulse oximeter
Sensor compares ratio of light emitted to light absorbed by hemoglobin and converts into a percentage of SpO2
Average O2 Levels
Over 95%
Average pulse
60-100 beats per min
Average Respirations
10-20 breaths per min
Average Blood Pressure: Systolic
120-139mmHG
Average Blood Pressure: Diastolic
80-89mmHG
